On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, Markayla Hope James, loving daughter, passed away at the age of 20. Markayla was born on August 28, 2000 in Midwest City, OK to Marc James and Glenda Hankins. She was attending college at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) with a major in Nursing. She was officially accepted into the program and would have started with the Fall 2021 class.
Markayla had a passion for travel and experiencing everything life had to offer. She also deeply loved her family and friends. She lived with vibrance and made lasting impressions on everyone she came into contact with. She had an unconditional caring spirit, something she learned from her Mom, which lit up any room she was in. She was an avid music lover of all genres, and would often play music trivia with her Dad. Her legacy will live on through those who cared so intensely for her.
Markayla was often spoken as having an old soul. She was always pondering through how to solve the world’s problems, over a latte with some fancy design in the foam, and would write herself inspirational messages. One of those messages spoke to the family and in Markayla’s words, “You are only human. Be kind, do good, and good will come to you. Be gentle with yourself and don’t rush things. Everything happens for a reason.”
Markayla is survived by her parents, Glenda and James Hankins; Marc and Karyl James; her beloved boyfriend Daniel Appleton; her sister Raeleigh Vincent and husband Jimmy; her nieces Abbigail and Lillian; her grandparents Melven and Pam James; Kenneth and Jodi McMillin; Mona Pendergraph, and her many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.
Markayla was preceded in death by her grandparents Betty and Jerry Reynolds, her Aunt Teresa Grant and her cousin Shannon Washburn.
The family will receive guests at her viewing on Friday, March 5, 2021 at the Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home in Midwest City from 4pm to 8pm. A celebration of her life will be the following day, Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Country Estates Baptist Church in Midwest City at 10am.
In lieu of flowers, family and friends may make a memorial contribution to the Markayla Hope James Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund at Mercy Health Foundation. This fund will provide scholarships to future Nurses in her memory.
